Page 113 of Earthbound

Not to death, for he knew now that it would elude him, but just to feel the rush of fear. To be afraid of something physical, and not something that prowled in the shadows of his mind.

Is this the start of my madness? Do all roads lead to Afa?

‘Alder?’ Lettle sounded scared too, but for his safety, even though he could not die. Her care brought a part of him back to himself.

He reached for her and squeezed her hand.

‘Let’s go.’

—

They walked down the cliffside into the belly of Caperly in silence. It wasn’t a long walk, no more than half of an hour. As they approached the first of the city streets, Alder noticed a figure in the road. They lay prone on a sleeping mat.

‘Is that…Mortah?’ Lettle said.

She woke as they approached.

‘Is it you? Is it Alder?’ she asked. Her eyes were bloodshot.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It’s me.’

Mortah looked to Lettle for confirmation and she nodded. The older lady sagged with relief.

‘Thank the three gods, Mia was going to flay me alive if I didn’t come back with good news today.’

When neither of them answered she raised a brow and said, ‘It is good news, isn’t it?’

‘Yes,’ Lettle answered quickly for the both of them. ‘We got what we came for.’

‘How is Mia? And the babies?’ Alder asked.

‘There was a moment when we thought they might be coming early, but Mia has made a good home for them, and they have stayed put. Though she’s on bed rest.’

Alder chuckled. ‘I bet she is taking that well. Have you been sleeping here these last few days?’ He helped her pack up her bedroll.

‘Mia threatened to do it herself,’ she said with a snort. ‘And with Farhan still bedbound too, I was the only choice.’

‘How is Farhan’s ankle?’ Lettle asked.

‘Bandaged and healing. He is sharing a resting room with Mia and Dart. Poor Dart has become a healer’s apprentice.’

They started making their way into town. Mortah’s limp slowed them down some, and Lettle moved to her side to help her.

‘I’m sorry I lost your cane,’ Lettle said quietly.

Mortah’s eyes narrowed. ‘That’s all right. Did she go down in battle?’

Lettle swallowed, her gaze slipping to Alder’s and then away. ‘She did.’

It was then that Alder realised he would never know the full extent of what happened for those three days in that cave. And though Lettle loved him, he wondered if there would always be a wariness buried deep in her love, if Afa had irrevocably damaged the purity of their friendship while wearing his face.

‘Alder?’ The call came from up ahead. Dart stood in front of a resting room, his arms laden with sticky cardamom pastries.

‘I hope Mia’s willing to share,’ Alder said as they drew level with him. Dart looked haggard; his beard had grown out in long, silver streaks, his face heavily lined with exhaustion. But the wrinkles smoothed as he smiled and let out a cry of happiness. The pastries tumbled to the ground as he embraced Alder.

It was good to be held.

Ajax weaved past them and began to eat the pastries on the ground.